17/02/2024
With equine experts that aren’t experts in saddle fitting believing that a saddle isn’t enough to affect a horse’s ability to work correctly or to build symmetry to aid performance I can’t help but scream out You’re wrong!
Despite only doing very few horses these days either passed on by believing professionals who are trying to identify poor performance, and close friends, I have had 3 horses in one week who’s movement has been transformed by a mixture of saddle placement, rebalancing and alterations.
A horse being asked to achieve our goals, even if its aim is to create a better way of carrying itself and its human, will always have to compensate and work through restriction and discomfort if we don’t correct these things first.
This week I’ve had a beautifully obliging horse show that it can canter correctly to the right using the correct canter lead once his shoulders were free, a pony negotiate hills without its (what had become normal) resistance, and another stop tripping, spooking and jogging, leading to the instructor noticing how much more they could achieve because this pony was now comfortable.
We MUST listen to the experts in that experts field, not others with an ego that gives them the confidence to guide others in an area outside of their area of knowledge. Welfare is listening to body language even if it’s not bucking or bolting, but those that shut down and hold that glazed, staring expression as they try so hard for us.
I am not always right and there is so much to learn when it comes to horses, but working with other specialists that value your knowledge in order to help a horse (and rider) enjoy their partnership is always a pleasure.
To every horse I work with, I will try and listen to what you are telling me, to be gentle, help where I can and communicate this to your rider/owner.
To every owner/rider, I will try and communicate my findings honestly, from knowledge, to help you understand clearly so you can have a happy partnership.
Credit
Michelle lyall ♥️
